Feuding groups stall civic projects

Anantapur: Bickering between Ananta-pur MP J.C. Diwakar Reddy and Anantapur (urban) MLA V. Prabhakar Chowdary at every programme over the past few days has been proving to be disruptive for both party cadres and officials of the Anantapur Municipal Corporation (AMC).

While Diwakar Reddy and a group of municipal corporators were firm about taking up road widening in the Old Town area, a well-to-do business district in the Anantapur headquarters, locally, Mr Chowdary and AMC mayor M. Swaroopa are opposing the proposal.

Police had to post additional forces near the Gandhi statue after both groups of the Telugu Desam gathered there on Saturday. Mr Chowdary was on the dais along with Ms Swaroopa to observe the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The MLA had planned to campaign against his opponents.

Diwakar Reddy also arrived at the spot, but he remained with his aides and party cadres, without stepping on to the dais. Mr Reddy remained adamant on the road-widening project that he claimed would reduce the traffic problem in the Old Town area and also establish clear connectivity with the Anantapur-Gooty Road via the Old Town.

With Rs 70 crore already in hand for the purpose, the MP and his brother J.C. Prabhakar Reddy were holding Tadipatri up as a role model for the state for its all round development on the one hand, and on the other, mounting pressure on the civic authorities to take up road widening by offering an attractive compensation package for those affected by the project.

The MLA’s group is reportedly resisting the proposal, suggesting that the city's expansion be taken up instead of demolishing existing structures in the Old Town area.

A senior official from the Anantapur Municipal Corporation said that the staff was suffering due to the two groups from the ruling party being unable to see eye to eye on the matter.